Coupling-key-retaining means.



A. J. B. HARRIS.

COUPLING KEY RETAINING MEANS. A P P L I C A T I 0 N F I L E D I A N 2 5 I I 9 I 5.

Patented May 1, 1917.

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COUPLING-KEY-RETAINING MEANS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 1, 131?.

Application filed January 25, 1915. Serial No. 4,185.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT J. B. HARRIs, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Rochester, in the county of onroe and State of New York, have invented a oertain new and useful Improvement in Coupling-Key-Retaining Means, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the acforming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in coupler key retaining means.

An object of the invention is to rovide simple means for insuring the retention of a coupler, yoke, or like key in its proper position and to prevent accidental or unintentional removal or loss of the same to thereby promote safety in the operation of draft riggings for railway cars.

In the drawing forming a part ofthis specification, Figure 1 is a part top plain part horizontal sectional view of a portion of a draft rigging showing a coupler key and my improvement in connection therewith. Fig. 2 is an enlarged end elevation of the coupler key and retaining means associated therewith. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and Fig. iis a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 4 i of Fig. 2.

In said drawing, 10-10 denote center sills of usual construction, which, as shown, are provided with coupler key slots 11-11 in which reciprocates longitudinally a coupler key 12, the latter passing through the usual slot in a coupler shank 13 and slots in the side wings 14-14 of a yoke 15 having a hooded end 16. l

The coupler key 12 is provided with a headed end 17, as is usual and at the other end is provided with a pair of oppositely arranged notches or recesses 18-18. For retaining the key in position and preventing its accidental removal, I provide a band or collar 19 of substantially rectangular shape and adapted to fit over the end of the key 12. The band or collar 19 at one end thereof is formed with a cross iece 20, which fits in one of the notches 18 Fsee Fig. 4:) At its other end, the band or collar 19 is provided with an upper slot 21 and a lower narrower slot 22, the same being alined and so positioned that the aline with the other notch 18 in the coup er key. The outer walls of the holes or erforations 21 and 22 are notched as indicated at 23. The inner walls 24 of the holes 21 and 22 are vertical, whereas the outer notched walls 23 are inclined, thus forming tapered openings in which is adapted to be seated a wedge shaped pin or plug 25, the latter being also provided with a notched edge 26, cooperable with the notched faces 23. At its lower or smaller end, the tapered pin or wedge 25' has a bendable lip 27 which, when thekey is first inserted, occupies the position shown in dotted lines at 27 in Fig. 2. When the wedge 25 has been suitably driven home to form a tight fit in the holes 21 and 22 with the cooperating notches engaging eachother, the lip 27 is then hammered over to the position shown in full lines in Figs. 2 and 3.

1 have herein referred to the key 12" as a coupler key, but it will be understood that my improvement is'equally applicable to other keys, such as are commonly employed in the draft rigging art and 1 do not wish to be confined to the use of my improvements merely to a coupler connecting key.

seen that the retaining means which 1 have provided insure a secure locking of the band or collar to the key and absolutely prevents the removal of the latter without first removing the wedge 25. All of the parts may From the preceding description it will be I be readily manufactured at relatively slight expense and can be put in place by the cheapest class of labor.

1 claim 1. In a device of the character described, the combination with an elongated flat key, of a substantially rectangular collar therefor, and means, independent of the members with which the key is employed, for locking said collar on the key to prevent movement thereof in either direction longitudinally of the key, said means including a retaining pin extending transversely through the collar and perpendicular to the flat faces of the key, said pin engaging the key when in operative position.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a key, of a collar therefor, and a retaining pin extending transversely through the collar and engaging one side of said key, said in being tapered in a plane transverse to t e plane of the key, whereby the collar is prevented from movement longitudinally of the key.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a key, of a collar at the end thereof, said collar having holes therethrough of tapered form, and a retaining wedge-shaped pin extending through said holes, said pin and the walls of said holes being notched.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with a key having notches on the edges thereof, a collar encircling said key and having one edge engaging in one of said notches, and a retaining pin passing through said collar and engaging in the other of said notches in the key.

5. In a device of the character-described,

the combination with a key having notched edges, of a collar surrounding said key and having one end thereof engaging in one of said notches, the opposite end of said collar being provided with transversely extending 20 tapered holes, the walls of which are notched, and a wedge shaped pin extending through said holes and having also a notched edge cooper-able with the notched Walls of said holes, said pin having also a bendable 25 lip.

ALBERT JOHN BROMLEY HARRIS. Witnesses:

RAYMOND S. HUMBURCII, CHAS. H. WADHAMS. 

